Philanthropy

The Children’s Wish Foundation’s Night of Wonders Gala 2017

Gala raises $375,000 to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses

By Paul Duchart /

Gala raises $375,000 to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses

More than 250 local leaders and influential members of Vancouver’s business community came together at AutoForm Performance on March 20 for a Night of Wonders to grant wishes for deserving children. Presented by Pacific Blue Cross, the evening raised $375,000 toward future wishes. The gala began with a cocktail reception and silent auction bidding followed by dinner provided by Edible Canada and a performance by Wish Child Jaimey Hamilton. Fred Lee, CBC’s Man About Town, and Sophie Lui, Global BC News Hour co-anchor, were the gala emcees. A live auction closed the night.

Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada is the largest and only all-Canadian wish-granting charity dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. For more than 30 years, Children’s Wish has worked to grant wishes to nearly 25,000 children and their families—that’s three wishes per day, all year long.

The BC & Yukon Chapter has granted 445 wishes in the past five years alone and is currently working with over 300 hundred families.

 

Credit: Paul Duchart

Jan Grude, Children’s Wish Foundation BC & Yukon advisory board chair and Pacific Blue Cross president and CEO; and Jessica Hollander, Children’s Wish Foundation gala chair

Credit: Paul Duchart

Sanders Yee, Gucci brand manager, Holt Renfrew Vancouver; and Miki Sugiyama, Gucci associate store manager Holt Renfrew Vancouver

Credit: Paul Duchart

Robin Gill, Global National weekend anchor, gala committee member and gala co-emcee; and Sophie Lui, Global BC News Hour co-anchor

Credit: Paul Duchart

Jennifer Peterson, Children’s Wish Foundation BC & Yukon director; and Ian McDonald, Liquidity Wines Ltd. owner

Credit: Paul Duchart

The Children’s Wish family: Jaimey, Hailey, Derrick and Heather Hamilton

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Sean Bagan, Colliers commercial real estate broker; Jason Matlo, designer; and Curtis Bagan, Colliers project manager

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Sarah Hoffman, HBT CFO; and Eric Hoffman, West Coast FoodPak Systems director of finance

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Michael McKnight, United Way CEO; and Heidi Worthington, Pacific Blue Cross SVP

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Chris Wanlass, Nordstrom Pacific Centre GM; Veronica Bailey, Nordstrom event/marketing, PR director; Desha Sekhow, Nordstrom customer relations manager; and Soriya Eldib, Nordstrom styling sales manager

Credit: Paul Duchart

Craig Henderson, Air Transat Vancouver performance manager; Rea Ganesh, Children’s Wish Foundation national director of development; Janine Walsh, Air Transat Toronto performance manager; and Rod Ramage, Air Transat regional manager western Canada

Credit: Paul Duchart

Tiffany Soper, Avenue PR co-founder and gala committee member; and Kevin Mazzone, Lazy Gourmet GM and gala committee member

Credit: Paul Duchart

Anna Rivera, BCLC channel specialist; and Clint Watford, BCLC channel specialist

Gala co-emcee Fred Lee, CBC’s Man About Town; and his husband, Joshua McViety, photographer

Credit: Paul Duchart

The Children’s Wish Foundation’s Night of Wonders Gala